Akita

Akita dog information

Native to the Japanese island of Honshu, the Akita dog has been used for a wide range of purposes. Originally bred to be an imperial guard dog, the Akita was also used for fighting, bear and deer hunts, and sledding. The breed has also been used by the Japanese police and army. In this article, you will find a lot of interesting Akita dog information. Did you for instance know that the Akita dog has webbed feet that makes it a highly capable swimmer? It is also equipped with an insulating undercoat and a harsh, waterproof outer coat. In Japan, the name Akita is pronounced AH-ki-ta, with emphasis on AH. In English, most people prefer to pronounce the name a-KEE-ta with emphasis on the middle syllable.

Akita dog care

This dog comes with a short-haired, coarse and stiff coat and required a lot of grooming. Brushing your dog with a firm bristle brush is an imperative part of proper Akita dog care. Bathing, especially with shampoo and hot water, should be avoided since this removes the natural waterproofing of the coat and can cause dry skin. The Akita changes its coat twice a year and will then shed a lot. An Akita dog can live happily in an apparent, as long as you provide it with sufficient amounts of exercise outdoors. Indoors, this breed is moderately active.

Akita dog puppy

The Akita dog puppy is a mesmerizing creature, but before you decide to bring one home you should ask yourself if you will be able to care for this dog for the next 10-12 years or even longer. You should also determine if this breed is the perfect breed for you. Getting an Akita dog puppy is not a good idea if you want a small dog with a low-maintenance coat that doesn’t shed. You should also keep in mind that this is a guarding dog that is naturally suspicious and often aggressive towards people and animals, especially when food is involved. You have to spend a lot of time training and socializing your Akita dog to make it a suitable pet. Getting an Akita dog puppy is a good idea if you want dog with a rugged, wolf-like appearance that doesn’t bark a lot.

Akita dog training

As mentioned above, proper Akita dog training is required if you want to turn this guarding/fighting dog into a well socialized pet. It is a very intelligent and affectionate breed that responds well to training as soon as it has realized that you are the pack leader. Early socialization and exposure to nice strangers is an important part of Akita dog training, since this dog is naturally suspicious of anyone outside their own household. In Japan, mothers would leave the Akita dog in charge of their children if they had to leave the home. The Akita dog would stay and defend the baby towards any intruders. As you can see, this is a breed that needs to get an outlet for its strong guarding tendencies; otherwise it will start guarding your children as well, and might end up attacking the mailman.

Akita dog breeding

According to the American Kennel Club, the aim of Akita dog breeding should be develop dogs that are powerful, alert and heavy boned. This dog should have a lot of substance. The broad head should be balanced by a big, curled tail that is set high and carried over the back or against the flank. The curl can be three-quarter, full or double.

Akita dog breeders

When purchasing Akita dogs, it is important to stick to knowledgeable and responsible breeder that strives to minimize the risk of hereditary health problems in the breed. It is also important to stay away from Akita dog breeders that use mentally unstable dogs for breeding, and breeders that do not provide the puppies with proper socialization training during the first imperative weeks of their lives. Examples of health problems associated with the breed are hip dysplasia, hypothyroid, autoimmune thyroiditis, skin problems and entropion.

Akita dog price

The Akita dog price varies a lot, and the important thing is to investigate what you actually get for your money. Is the Akita dog price high because the breeder has invested a lot of time, energy and money in creating healthy and well socialized puppies, or is the Akita dog price high simply because the seller is a greedy, irresponsible breeder that produces as many puppies as quickly as possible? You should for instance always check if the Akita puppy you are being offered has been vet-checked, vaccinated and de-wormed.